Photogenic Chemistry

The RAMP lab is currently installing and testing a new module for photochemistry on our SwingXL platform. This new tool (toy?) will allow us to screen for photochemical reactions across 48 reactors simultaneously.

We’re initially starting with blue (460,420 nm) and UV (395,365 nm) wavelengths, but we’re already fielding requests to explore red and green light!

What’s so interesting about shining some lights on a chemical reaction? Besides allowing us to explore very specific chemistry, photochem can be quick, less energy intensive (compared to reactions that require heating to high temperatures) and can be rapidly cycled on/off to control a reaction… just like a light switch.

Check back later in the year for updates on this new capability in RAMP and we’ll let you know if anything absorbing develops.